Trump Dredges Up The Monroe Doctrine

Donald Trump referred to Latin America and the Monroe Doctrine in his UN speech, appropriately in a speech where world leaders literally laughed at him.

Here in the Western Hemisphere, we are committed to maintaining our independence from the encroachment of expansionist foreign powers. 

It has been the formal policy of our country since President Monroe that we reject the interference of foreign nations in this hemisphere and in our own affairs. The United States has recently strengthened our laws to better screen foreign investments in our country for national security threats, and we welcome cooperation with countries in this region and around the world that wish to do the same. You need to do it for your own protection.

Not surprisingly, we don't have much idea what he's talking about. I don't know what Latin American investments are "encroachments" unless he means China. But China is involved in Latin America purely by Latin American invitation so there is no encroachment. But in short, if no one knows what you're talking about, no one is going to get your message, whatever confused message it is you are trying to send.

Meanwhile, Latin American governments are mentally giving you the finger for dredging up the Monroe Doctrine, which nowadays is a symbol of everything that is wrong with U.S. policy.

I assume this was inserted by John Bolton, who thinks of Latin America in this tone deaf, incoherent kind of way. As a foreign policy advisor, he is guaranteed to make the Trump administration even less popular than it is now in Latin America.